New Study Says PDGFRB Gene Could Become Path to Mesothelioma Therapies

A research group consisting of doctors and scientists from around the world has investigated the expression status of 119 candidate cancer genes in malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) tissues and cell lines. The group discovered that among the identified genes, one of the most interesting was PDGFRB encoding for the Platelet-Derived Growth Factor Receptor Beta.

In the new study, published in Genes & Cancer, the group writes:

“It has been suggested that the PDGF/PDGFR-beta interaction could be involved in the carcinogenesis of various tissues, including osteosarcoma, meningiomas, melanomas, neuroendocrine tumors, ovarian, pancreatic, gastric, lung, prostate cancers, and MPM, with both autocrine and paracrine mechanisms of growth stimulation. In agreement with this, it has been shown that PDGFRB is also associated with the aggressive behavior of several types of tumors.”

Given the role of PDGFRB in cancer, a plethora of PDGF/PDGFR pathway inhibitors are available and assayed in clinical trials for leukemia, gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST), and glioma. Thus, it is of interest to explore whether MPM patients may also benefit from the use of these agents. To this end, in the present work we studied the effect of PDGFRB inhibition in MPM cell lines. The approaches included the use of gene silencing and PDGFRB inhibitors. The results support PDGFRB up-regulation as a cancer-driver mechanism and suggest this receptor as a candidate therapeutic target worth being exploited in the treatment of this disease.

According to the group, PDGFRB (platelet-derived growth factor receptor beta) was already suggested as an MPM-cancer gene by previous research groups.

Currently there are numerous clinical trials involving PDGFRB gene. Some studies involve already FDA-approved drugs for specific gene abnormalities in advanced stage cancers. One of the largest studies being conducted today involves seven pharmaceutical companies and up to 16 different drugs. In the study, 15 groups of cancer patients will receive a drug that specifically targets certain genetic mutations. The study, called TAPUR (Testing the Use of Food and Drug Administration Approved Drugs That Target a Specific Abnormality in a Tumor Gene in People With Advanced Stage Cancer), is being sponsored the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).